When first entering Solitude, you will witness Ahtar carrying out his duties as executioner when he decapitates Roggvir while numerous citizens cheer. Ahtar himself will be unaffected and will just keep track of his beheadings, saying: "That makes Twenty-Three." After the execution, Ahtar will return to his job in the depths of Castle Dour dungeon where he wanders around from 8am to 8pm. He spends the evening inside the Winking Skeever. When the clock strikes midnight he heads down to the house of local merchant Jala for eight hours of sleep.

He is quite the brute and will, when approached, warn you: "Mind yourself in my city, friend/lass. This here axe in full swing is a right terrible sight..." and "You stay out of trouble, now. The Castle Dour dungeon can break even the strongest will." He also claims that being a jailor is rather easy: "Not much work being a jailor. Long as you can ignore the pleading and all that." and will also tell you: "Ain't many visitors come to the dungeon. Every now and then Sybille Stentor will come by looking for... volunteers." If you speak to him directly, he will ask: "You wouldn't be a sellsword, would you? I have a little problem you could solve." However, you can start by mentioning that he was the one executing Roggvir and he will coldly answer: "Aye. I'm the headsman here in Solitude. It's my job." You can then ask if it keeps him busy: "Depends on what you mean by "busy." I'm also the head jailor in the dungeon here. Quiet job, usually." You can also ask him when his next execution is due and he will show great hatred for questionable Argonian, Jaree-Ra: "Ain't got one. But I'd fancy a chance at that Jaree-Ra's scrawny neck. Filthy Argonian never would have set foot in this city, if High King Torygg was still alive. I can tell you that." If you exit conversation before accepting his task, he will say: "Keep your head about you." or "Just watch yourself. You don't want to meet me on the job."

When you ask him about the problem he mentioned earlier, he will confess: "I may have accidentally let a prisoner escape. The leader of one of those bandit groups. I told everyone he died during questioning, and I need you to track him down and make sure he doesn't show up to disprove that." If you decline, he will just say: "Suit yourself." If you accept, he will say: "Good. I'll have a sack of coin waiting for you when you get back." When you exit conversation he will remind you: "Remember. I need that bandit dead. Not alive." When you return from Broken Oar Grotto after killing Captain Hargar, he will be grateful and say: "That's a load off my mind. Here's your pay." He will then be available as a follower.

If Captain Hargar is dead, it may still be possible to gain Ahtar as a follower; however you may need to try repeatedly in order for it to work. Drop a piece of apparel in front of him, which may trigger him stopping you and asking if he can have the item you dropped. If you allow him to have it, Ahtar will regard you favorably, thereby enabling the dialogue option to gain him as a follower.

If the Headsman's Axe is taken from Ahtar before he is inducted into the Blades, and then given back to him after the induction, he will use the axe. This blocks the possible problem of the Blades using one-handed weapons, with Ahtar's Two-handed skill being higher.